Chicago – Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke confirmed she will meet with representatives from the Illinois Latino Agenda and the Latino Leadership Council next Wednesday. The meeting follows a coordinated effort by Latino community leaders to bring attention to ten police reports filed by Chicago residents who claim they were victims of misconduct by federal immigration agents during the Operation Midway Blitz sweep.
Community pressure leads to a scheduled meeting
During a news conference at Daley Plaza, Berto Aguayo, policy co‑chair for the Latino Leadership Council, explained that a coalition of roughly 30 Latino leaders had been trying for three months to secure a meeting with Burke’s office. “We want to be clear ahead of that meeting. We do not need another runaround. We do not need more smokescreens. We will not stand for it,” Aguayo said, emphasizing the community’s frustration with what they view as a lack of responsiveness.
Burke’s office responded via spokesperson Elyssa Cherney, stating that the State’s Attorney is “committed to educating stakeholders about the legal process, hearing from constituents, and ensuring our community has the information it needs to play a meaningful role in seeking accountability.” The office added that it will discuss how it is “addressing potential criminal cases arising from Operation Midway Blitz.”
Legal background and prior rulings
Last March, more than 400 elected officials, faith leaders, and community organizations submitted a petition demanding an independent prosecutor to investigate alleged abuses by federal immigration agents. The petition alleged that the State’s Attorney had “turned a blind eye to egregious acts of violence” by federal agents.
Cook County Judge Erica Reddick denied the petition, citing a 2017 Illinois Supreme Court decision that limits a local State’s Attorney’s investigative authority to situations where other law‑enforcement agencies have inadequately handled the matter or have specifically requested assistance. Judge Reddick noted that the Chicago Police Department had no files on alleged federal‑agent misconduct, indicating no evidence of inadequate local investigation.
Ongoing investigations and community concerns
The mass filing of police reports was organized in response to Judge Reddick’s ruling. Additional filings are reportedly in the works, according to Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vásquez. Community members also raised concerns about the 2022 shooting of Silverio Villegas González by a federal immigration agent in suburban Franklin Park, a case that remains under investigation by Illinois State Police.
State Police spokesperson Jayme Bufford declined to provide updates on that investigation, noting it would be turned over to the State’s Attorney’s office once completed.
Broader context and reactions
Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who launched the ICE Accountability Project earlier this year, called Burke’s resistance to investigate federal agents “disappointing” and criticized what she described as a fabricated excuse to shield officials from accountability.
Attorney Jimmy Arce, a former federal prosecutor, pointed to a recent Minnesota case where an ICE agent faces trial for false statements to investigators, arguing that “the difference is the willingness to act, to step up, to do your job.” He urged Burke to follow that example.
While the State’s Attorney’s office has not yet received any cases to review for charging, Cherney said the office is “actively supporting” both the Illinois State Police and Chicago Police Department investigations and will “conduct a thorough review and will not hesitate to prosecute if the facts and the law support charges.”
What’s next?
The upcoming meeting provides an opportunity for Latino leaders to receive direct updates on the status of the ten reports and to discuss any additional evidence that may warrant further action. Aguayo emphasized the urgency, asking, “Why can’t Burke? The time is now.”
As the dialogue unfolds, community members hope the meeting will move beyond promises to concrete investigative steps, ensuring accountability for any wrongdoing by federal immigration agents operating in Chicago and surrounding suburbs.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
